Obituary of Claire Emma Hillman

In Loving Memory

Claire Hillman

April 11, 1948 ~ July 27, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Claire. Claire Hillman passed away peacefully on the morning of July 27, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Claire was born on April 11, 1948, to Bernadette and Peter Wiart. She was the eldest of 7 siblings. Claire grew up in a busy household on a farm near Alliance with her 7 siblings. Early on the family only spoke French at home, so Claire, Lucille, Marguerite, and Annette’s first and only language was French. 

From grades 1 to 3, Claire attended Tinchebray, a one room country school with a wood stove and horse stable on the property for the kids that rode to school. Speaking only French at home, Claire struggled to learn English and had a difficult time connecting with her classmates when she entered grade 1. From that day forward Peter only wanted English spoken at home to help the rest of the kids have an easier time in school. By the time Armand, Gen, and Theresa came along, more French was allowed back in the home. Claire started grade 4 at Paintearth school with her sisters Lucille (Gr 3), Marguerite (Gr 2), and Annette (Gr 1). Their Dad, Peter, took on extra work as the bus driver and janitor of the Paintearth school on top of farming. The whole family pitched in to help clean the school in those years.  

Claire also worked on the farm and helped take care of her younger siblings. This way of life taught her the value of hard work, the importance of conserving and re-purposing items, the value of money and the importance of family and community.

Claire attended Theresetta High School in Castor from grade 9 to 12 and graduated in 1966. Shortly after graduating she entered a training program at the Bank of Montreal in Edmonton. She was smart and was good with numbers and was soon working full-time at the bank. The skills she learned at the bank served her well throughout her life. 

Claire was transferred to the Bank of Montreal branch in Forestburg where she later met Ken Hillman. She married Ken on February 24, 1968. After they were married, they moved onto the Hillman family farm. In 1969 Kevin was born followed by Allen in 1973. Claire was a loving mother to her two boys. She gave them freedom to play and explore their surroundings on the farm but of course they were also expected to help with chores. During these years Claire worked at the bank in Forestburg, and on the farm, all the while raising her two boys. She also worked at the Forestburg Veterinary Clinic for Bob Marcinkoski during this time, working in the office and doing books. The farm was growing during this time and in addition to raising cattle and growing crops they expanded into growing saskatoons and strawberries.

It was a busy time, but Claire and Ken were able to go on many camping trips with family and friends. They also took family trips to Los Angeles, Hawaii, and later just the two of them travelled to Mexico.

As the boys got older, Claire and Ken decided to embark on a new venture of growing tomatoes. They started with a small greenhouse and eventually built a larger greenhouse and supplied local stores and farmers markets with vine ripened tomatoes and cucumbers. Claire spent many weekends selling tomatoes at the local farmers' markets. Ken often joked that the tomatoes she took to the market would magically turn into bread, cookies and various hand-crafted items as she often traded tomatoes with other vendors at the market. 

Running the greenhouse was hard physical labour as the tomatoes and cucumbers were manually picked and packaged for the markets and stores. The greenhouse was an integral part of the community with people dropping by to visit and buy tomatoes. Claire always welcomed a visit from the neighbours.

Sadly, on March 28, 2000, Ken passed away suddenly. This was a tough period for Claire. Her life changed as she moved to a smaller home on the farm. With the unwavering support from her family and friends and living near Allen and Robin and her grandchildren she was able to gain strength and take the time she needed to heal. Spending time with her siblings and taking trips with Lucille to Mexico, Jasper, Salt Spring Island, and a St Lawrence River cruise, also helped her through this time.

After Ken’s passing, Claire continued to run the greenhouse with the help of her son Allen. The greenhouse was an important part of her family’s life. Her grandchildren loved to help her pick tomatoes. She would set them on the picking cart and take them with her as she picked the tomatoes. On Easter mornings they loved to run through the rows of tomatoes and cucumbers searching for easter eggs. There are many fond memories of spending time with Grandma Claire in the greenhouse. Claire also continued to help Allen and Robin on the farm, spending many hours in the combine during harvest.

In the spring of 2007, Claire was introduced to Tony by her sister Marguerite and brother-in-law Duane.  In Tony she found a kind and loving partner and the second love of her life.  

Claire and Tony were married on January 9th, 2010, and began their lives together in Castor.  Claire fit right in with Tony’s family, his children, grandchildren and later, great grandchildren.   

Claire and Tony had many things in common. They were both active members of their community. Claire was a member of Our Lady of The Rosary Hospital Ladies Auxiliary where she served as treasurer, the Coronation/Consort Victim Services Society where she also served as treasurer, and she was a Lifetime member of the CWL.

She was also asked to work at the ATB branch in Castor, working full-time there for a few years.

Claire and Tony also shared a love of travel. They went on many trips together including their honeymoon cruise from Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal, a bus trip to Alaska, a bus trip to Texas and Louisiana, a bus trip to Minot North Dakota, and a 16-day river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. Claire also took a big trip to Australia with her sister Gen.

Claire and Tony purchased a motor home and camped at many campgrounds and attended numerous family reunions and gatherings with it. They also took the motor home for short trips close to home such as the Huber Dam Campground.  

Both Claire and Tony continued to come to the family farm every fall to help with harvest.  Even when Claire could no longer get into the combine, she still enjoyed visiting with family and going to the field for meals.

Claire and Tony were both avid curling fans and missed very few games. They either watched them live or recorded the games. They also loved playing crib, reading, building jigsaw puzzles and visiting with family and friends. Claire’s grandchildren always enjoyed a card game with Grandma even though she always liked to win. Many family gatherings included a game.

Claire always had a positive outlook on life. She always saw the sunny side of things. She always made us laugh and giggle at the silly things she would do and say.

Later, as her health deteriorated, she never complained or let it slow her down. She never missed a family event or a chance to see her friends and neighbours at events like the community dinners. She also never missed church, even near the end when she had to watch Mass on Vision TV.

We will miss Claire immensely beyond what words can express, but we know she is no longer in pain and that she is at peace and smiling down upon us.

Claire is survived by her loving husband Tony Nichols; children Kevin (Colleen) Hillman and Allen (Robin) Hillman; stepchildren Michael (Susan) Nichols, Phillip (Laurie) Nichols and Lynda (Jarvis) Gamroth; grandchildren Steven, Davis, Brady, Lane, Semira, Carter and Jin Ju; step grandchildren Meaghan, Caitlyn (Tyler), Brittney (Devon), Kristen, Travis (Bailey), Jenna (Kyle), Easton, Barret and Leah; step great grandchildren Mason, Kallen, Blakely and Sophie; siblings Lucille (Frank) Bain, Marguerite (Duane) Nichols, Annette (Larry) Lerminiaux, Armand (Denise) Wiart, Genevieve Wiart and Therese (Craig) Wiart Jenkinson; numerous nieces and nephews, as well as many other relatives and friends.

Claire was predeceased by her first husband Ken Hillman; parents Peter and Bernadette Wiart; stepdaughter Gail Nichols; brother-in-law Gerry Kiss and nephew Nathan Kiss.

Memorial Mass

Friday, August 8, 2025 at 2:00 P.M.

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Castor, Alberta

Following mass, please join the family for a luncheon

at the Castor Community Hall, Castor Alberta

Memorial donations may be made to OLRH Foundation ~ Ladies Auxiliary, Box 329, Castor, Alberta T0C 0X0.